The Department for Education (DfE) has issued a clarification over a tweet it sent out regarding the teaching of gay rights in schools.

The message said it was "nonsense to say schools must teach gay rights". The message elicited a strong response from gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who said the tweet was "disgraceful homophobia".

However, the DfE responded with a series of tweets clarifying its position, explaining that schools were not being made to teach gay rights against strong opposition.

The DfE was responding to a Sunday Times interview with Education secretary Nicky Morgan with the headline "Faith schools 'must teach gay rights".

Clarification @thesundaytimes: It is complete nonsense to say that schools are being forced to 'teach gay rights' against their will. (1/5)